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| 17th Annual Honolulu Festival-Special Interview |
The Nagaoka Fireworks from Niigata, Japan will be displayed at the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival to be held March 11-13, 2011. The Honolulu Festival's Nagaoka Fireworks will be launched with the goal of preserving world peace. It is our desire that those that gather for this event will use this opportunity to reevaluate the importance of peace in the world.
This is linked to the sub theme for the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival "We are all neighbors, around the world" means that regardless of our different nationalities and culture, if we can feel familiar and close to one another, if each one of us can care for each other, then world peace will prevail.
We are fortunate to have the mayor of Nagaoka City in Niigata Prefecture, Mayor Tamio Mori, who is also the Chairman of the Japan Association of City Mayors, with us when he is in Honolulu for meetings. Honolulu Festival Foundation's executive director, Masakazu Asanuma, will be conducting this interview.
Asanuma: The Honolulu Festival interviewed Kazuo Nizawa, vice chairman of the Executive Committee for Developing a Bridge of Friendship between Japan and USA, last December.
This time, we are delighted to have the opportunity to interview Mayor Mori of Nagaoka. We'd like to talk to Mayor Mori in regards to the launching of the Nagaoka Fireworks in Honolulu. Thank you very much.
First of all, what is the purpose of your visit to Honolulu this time?
Mayor: The purpose of my visit is to meet Honolulu's new mayor Peter Carlisle who was elected to office last October because I have never met him. I want to discuss the objectives of the Nagaoka Fireworks in Honolulu and about future possibilities for friendship and cultural exchange.
I met with former Consul General Kunikata, of the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu to discuss the objectives of the Nagaoka Fireworks on my previous visit here, but since I had never met the current Consul General Kamo, I felt that it was very important that we meet and discuss our intentions face to face.
Asanuma: I guess that we could say that there is an opportunity to create a bridge for world peace, between Honolulu and Nagaoka, with this relationship between our two countries.
Mayor: Yes, absolutely. The people of Nagaoka feel very special towards Honolulu because of Pearl Harbor. Japan and America have good relations today. However, because the Pearl Harbor attack was a preemptive strike by the Japanese, I think there was the feeling that "some bones were stuck in our throats."
We need to understand each other in order for us to continue and build our real friendship and good relations. I think it is important for us to understand why we had to go to war against each other and figure out why there had to be a Pearl Harbor attack. I am hoping that the Nagaoka Fireworks in Honolulu will result in us thinking about these issues of the past and coming to some conclusions.
Visiting Mayor of Honolulu Peter Carlisle |
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Asanuma: You visited Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial today. What are your impressions?
Mayor: The Arizona Memorial, not only is it enormous in scope, but there was also new exhibition content. As mayor of Nagaoka, the extent of the information covering Isoroku Yamamoto caught my eye. Isoroku Yamamoto is from Nagaoka and was the Naval Marshal General and the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet of Japan in charge of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It has been written accurately from before, but the new information once again clearly indicated that Yamamoto was against starting the war with the United States until the very end and that he thoroughly understood America's strength. I was moved by the fairness of his introduction in the past exhibition. But this time, the content was even more extensive. It also explained Japan's position thoroughly. I was once again deeply touched by America's fairness.
Asanuma: We hope that there will be an opportunity for the people of Nagaoka to have a similar experience in March when they come to the Honolulu Festival.
Mayor: Definitely. In a way, both sides are assailants in war, both sides are victims. Over sixty years have passed and I think that we have reached the perfect time for both sides to understand each other calmly.
Tour of Pearl Harbor's Ford Island
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Visit to the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor |
The Arizona Memorial |
Exhibit of Yamamoto Isoroku |
Asanuma: In that context can you explain the significance of the Nagaoka Fireworks at the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival?
Mayor: Yes, and in order to explain this I must first talk about the origin of Nagaoka Fireworks.
Nagaoka was attacked by American air raids on August 1, 1945. 1,480 citizens were killed. The Nagaoka Fireworks were first displayed the following year as a memorial for those who died and to support the reconstruction of our city. The fireworks were also displayed as a desire for world peace.
Therefore, regardless of the day, we have continued to display the fireworks on August 2nd and 3rd, the two days after the raid each year. And by launching these fireworks annually, the citizens of Nagaoka are able to constantly think about peace. This is a very important part of our history.
I think that in American culture, fireworks are a means of celebration. "Hanabi" literally translates to "flower" and "fire." In Japan, it has the meaning of "laying flowers" or "offering flowers (to people who have passed away)."
The fireworks displayed in Nagaoka each year are "fireworks to pray for peace." And thus it has been our long desire to launch the Nagaoka Fireworks in Honolulu where Pearl Harbor is located. We are finally able to accomplish this goal.
But our final objective is not simply to launch the Nagaoka Fireworks in Honolulu. Of course we realize that the Nagaoka Fireworks will impact the audience. We consider them to be the world's most dynamic fireworks. So we are very excited to be able to launch them and show the world its beauty.
But as I have explained before, the Nagaoka Fireworks are "fireworks for peace." We want to use the Nagaoka Fireworks as a catalyst so that each of us will think deeply about peace. We would like to establish a relationship based on such true values. I really hope that this will happen.
Asanuma: So the objective is not simply to launch the Nagaoka Fireworks but to create a catalyst for a deeper relationship. Then please explain how you imagine Nagaoka and Honolulu can further develop this relationship?
Mayor: We started a program last year with Japan-America Society of Hawaii's support. Junior high students of Nagaoka were sent to Honolulu to be involved in many programs. They met with Honolulu junior high school students. We hope that they will establish a strong friendship.
Also, the people of Nagaoka have a strong affinity to Hawaii. We have many hula groups in Nagaoka. There is great admiration for Hawaii. So with this opportunity of displaying the Nagaoka Fireworks here in Honolulu, we hope that our people will establish their own friendships on a personal level with the people of Hawaii.
Asanuma: What kind of response have you received from your people in regards to launching your fireworks in Honolulu?
Mayor: To be quite honest with you, we were concerned as to what degree our folks would understand the objectives. However when we began recruiting for participants for the Honolulu Festival as well as for the official group to visit Hawaii, the number of people who wanted to participate was amazing, much more that we ever expected. There will be nearly 300 citizens from Nagaoka who will be coming with high expectations to the Honolulu Festival in March (officially and privately).
Asanuma: The economic impact for Honolulu will be big too.
Mayor: The city of Nagaoka also expects great economic impact. It has always been our desire to show the world the beauty of the world famous Nagaoka Fireworks. Displaying the Nagaoka Fireworks in Honolulu is a wonderful opportunity for more people to learn about our city. We hope that this will lead to positive economic impact for Nagaoka as well.
For example, Nagaoka is known for its 17 sake breweries. Our sake is well known throughout Japan. Nagaoka is also snow country and we have great hot springs "onsen." We would like the people of Hawaii to visit Nagaoka on a snow viewing tour.
Asanuma: I have been told that next year in 2012 you will be participating in the 100th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom "Sakura" Festival in Washington, D.C., that the Nagaoka Fireworks will be displayed there.
Mayor: You know, this is the result of our participation in the Honolulu Festival.
We were given the opportunity to show a demonstration of our fireworks to the chairman and director of the Planning Committee for the Cherry Blossom Festival when their group visited Nagaoka end of last year. They thoroughly enjoyed the firework demonstration.
It is not definite yet however our talks are heading in the right direction.
It would be great if our participation in the Honolulu Festival will serve as a catalyst in participating in the 100th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. This is a great honor for the people of Nagaoka.
Asanuma: Well, I have been told that Isoroku Yamamoto was assigned to the Consulate General of Japan in Washington, D.C.
Mayor: Yes, Isoroku Yamamoto was based at the Consulate General of Japan in Washington, D.C. as a resident naval officer.
He was able to witness such things as the oil fields of the south. He learned about America's strength and that is why he was against war until the very end. But I believe that because of his position, he did the best he could as a military leader.
We feel a connection to Washington, D.C. because Isoroku Yamamoto based at the Consulate General of Japan in Washington, D.C. as a resident officer.
Asanuma: I would like to ask one last question. I realize that it is your desire to build a new relationship between Honolulu and Nagaoka. Can you expound on that idea?
Mayor: I have hoped that our relationship will deepen for many years now. As you know, we have relentlessly observed the Nagaoka Fireworks on August 2nd and 3rd, the two days after the air raid, for many years. I have been longing to tell the story about the spirit of the citizens of Nagaoka, about their dedication to observe this memorial each year.
Discussions about displaying the Nagaoka Fireworks in Honolulu began about four years ago. It was my desire to make this happen, however, it's not as if I had a firm conviction of whether we could really do it. The realization that it is really happening this March makes me feel very deep emotions. I can't help but have mixed feelings of amazement of having come so far and sheer excitement.
Asanuma: I understand that you are very busy but we hope that you will return with the people of Nagaoka for the Honolulu Festival in March.
Mayor: Yes, I feel that this is my life's work. I will return for it no matter what.
Asanuma: Thank you very much. We look forward to seeing you in March.
Mayor: Yes, let's see each other again in March.
Participating at the New Year reception for
Japan America Society of Hawaii
(At the official residence of the Governor of Hawaii, Washington Place) |
Mayor Mori of Nagaoka City with Executive Director Asanuma of the Honolulu Festival Foundation |
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17th Annual Honolulu Festival Nagaoka Fireworks
8:30pm (following the parade) - 8:45pm
Venue:Waikiki Beach/Waikiki
*Hawaiian105 KINE will be broadcasting the music to the fireworks from 8:30pm-8:45pm. Please bring your FM Radio with you. |
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[ Nagaoka Fireworks Special Interview ]
Interview 1: Interview with KAZUO NIZAWA, vice chairman of the Executive Committee for Developing a Bridge of Friendship between Japan and USA
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